Je parle français

I have now been a Parisian for a month, it is still the most exciting thing ever. This week has thrown it's fair share of ups and downs at me.

Thursday was a stressful day; everything went tits up with my French lessons and D phoned me at 9am to inform me to go to the new school I was going to be having lessons to take a test, merde. So I went and obviously answer about 1 1/2 questions which made me feel rubbish about my French ability all over again. I am also someone who needs important things like this sorted or else I stress and worry (somewhat of a flaw) so you can imagine what last minute test and getting the last place in a class was doing to me. Anyho, it of course sorted itself out! I had my first French lessons today, whilst I wasn't the best in the class I was by no means the least either, actually helped people at times. Onwards with positivity that I'll wow you all with my French skills soon.

Whilst Thursday was stressful I still found fun things to do. Thank goodness for Bella and her willingness to go find places with me, she met me after the test and we went to the Muséum national D'histoire naturelle (the natural history museum) another freebie for 18-25 ans. The museum is in huge grounds and has like 4 different buildings, we just went to Le Grande Galeries de L'évolution; a big room of stuffed animals, I loved it!!! We then had a lovely couple of hours at the Au pair cafe we go to, such a lovely chance to catch up and unload stress. Unsurprisingly I found myself drifting behind the bar making drinks (tea and coffee not pints unfortunately) old habits die hard!

 Le Grande Galeries de L' évolution

Friday was a quiet morning, I had washing etc to do, the children were a handful on Friday, A didn't want to talk to me and E was to hyper to listen, deep breath... but we got there. Such an encouraging moment when you think the English grammar you've been teaching for a week has gone unremembered then you do an end of the week test and both children ace it! I have hope for my teaching skills yet! Friday night was spent having homemade mojitos at Delaine's whilst watching the Eiffel tower sparkle in the distance. We then ventured to a bar recommended to us by D, not exactly my kinda place but we wandered (stumbled) around the corner to The Guinness Tavern where we were treated like princesses and sat listening to a brilliant live band till 5:30am. I managed to come home with a rose in my bag in place of my trusty map (luckily Bella had it!) and then proceeded to prove why my phone should be confiscated after a 'busy' night, yeah sorry about that, pretty sure you don't mind though . As you can imagine this made me fit for not a lot on Saturday, just about made it out for a couple of hours to wander down the Seine and meet the girls on Ille st Louis whilst they ate ice-cream and I photographed ducks.

Cheers birthday girls and Tim

This looks about 3amish

Lil duckies

Saturday night saw me venture out to the 'burbs for a birthday, Natalie's birthday to be precise, the wonderful youth worker of the church I've started attending, runner of Au Pair cafe and friend of my predecessor. It was such a lovely evening where I had some of the most encouraging chats I've had in a while, I needed that, sometimes you need someone to tell you it's all ok and you're doing fine. I met some amazing people on Saturday night, so many stories to share, many who knew the previous au pair from my family so it was easy to start conversations. Sunday was another lovely day, more exploring with Bella. We went to 59 rue Rivoli, a 6 storey buildings that artists get three month residencies in; it was insanely beautiful. It's free and we'll worth a visit. We then stumbled upon a French car boot fair thing and rummaged through vintage shops. A good day was made even better by an amazing evening service, I was so blessed to be there for that experience

I have missed home a lot this week. I've missed the people I left behind there, there's so much I want to show you all. I was also missing two of my best best girl's birthdays AND my brother's 30th, so sad. This is the one thing I hate about living away, missing the big events like this. I hope you guys all had the most amazing days!! Big love to you. 

3 years on

3 years ago (and a day but I was super sleepy yesterday) I was left standing in Tref A, flat 67, room C9 by my Pops. I was terrified, I sniffed whilst unpacking my room wondering if moving 265miles away was a good idea. Turns out it was the greatest decision of Kate's life so far. It was a long road to get me to uni, I didn't want to go at first, had my heart set on starting a career but after a year out I decided it was probably worth a shot. Funnily enough I thought about au pairing in that gap year but didn't feel like I was experienced enough to live in another country by myself yet; there is a big difference between 18, fresh from school and 22, gone through uni or at least lived a little, this was evident at university and it's evident now meeting new au pairs. HOWEVER I'm not saying 18 year-olds can't do it, I just think they are looking for a different experience to us older girls. Anyway yeah I was pretty nervous starting university, would I make friends, would I like my course, would I survive?? Turns out yes, for the most part, to all of them. 

2 1/2 years into university I made a huge decisions, to bugger off to Paris and get my French on. Well actually at first it was Europe, then Germany, then France generally and after finding my family it became Paris. When I wrote my profile on au pair world I didn't believe I had the guts to go through with it. Even after I got the job I still couldn't get to grips with actually moving here. A couple of people almost made me give up and stay, a couple of what ifs; I'll never tell them that though; I just had to keep telling myself that if these people are meant to be in your life now, they'll still be there in a year. And by a couple I probably mean one.

First day in Paris was extremely similar to first day in Aberystwyth, I sniffeled through unpacking but now, now I could tell myself that you made it through Aberystwyth, you can make it through Paris. One month in and I guess I could say I'm settled, Paris is becoming home 3.  I haven't started my French lessons yet and I really want to just get on with it, I want to be able to reply to the friendly French man in Monoprix. 

I guess what I am trying to say is new things are terrifying, unless you're really lucky and super brave. New things are also exciting, they can lead you anywhere. Don't let that sick feeling of dread stop you from doing something, you just have to go for it. It's like Dr Suess said,
 'You'll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You'll get mixed up
with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that life's
a great balancing act.
Just never forget to be dexterous
and deft.
And never mix up your right foot 
with your left.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed.
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!
(Yeah if you've never read 'Oh, the places you'll go!' DO IT)

Apart from thinking about this since my last blog I have, eaten cheese and partied to hard accidentally. Walked around le marais again. Eaten pizza, had cocktails and actually managed to get the last metro home. Had another walking tour from D (so much fun). And had coffee with many different people. I have lost my sightseeing game and this is not cool, although tonight I went to a free concert at Radio France, the band were so cool. They are called 'The Do' and y'all should for sure check them out.

Here's to me trying to have more exciting things to talk about next time.

It's good to be 22

Okay one amazing thing about being a 22 year-old EU citizen in Paris? As long as you show ID you get into the majority of museums, galleries and tourist attractions for free; those that aren't free often offer a reduced rate. In fact this includes all EU citizens aged 18-26, seriously cool thing to do Paris. So far I've only paid to go into the Monet museum and that was half price. The free entrance often only includes permanent collections, be prepared to pay extra for guest exhibitions. But it's not just musées; it includes attractions as well such as, going up the Notre-Dame tower and up the Arc de Triomphe. I have had serious fun wafting my passport at stuffy ticket men these last two days....

Thursday
Thursday has got to be one of my favourite solo exploration trips so far, I finally got round to venturing to the Marais, D keeps asking me if I've been and telling me I'd love it, well it is my new favourite area in Paris. Before wandering around the winding streets I decided to get my culture on and go to the Musée Carnavalet, quite simply as museum about the history of Paris. Best. Museum. Ever. Half the time I didn't have a sodding clue what I was looking at but it was so fun, it literally has everything in it; art, architecture, history things, models etc. It's huge too!! I was gutted though because the archaeology room was shut which was the bit I wanted to see the most, oh well I shall just have to go back! If your in Paris, go to this museum, yes the art galleries are nice but there was soooo much to see and take in here. After being cultural I spent ages wandering around the Marais streets, drooling over Yiddish pâtissières and falafel stands, wishing I was richer to buy some of the artwork I saw and admiring some amazing series of street art. I also made some pit stops into vintage stores; I picked up two new skirts and the coolest shirt ever for a grand total of 7€, have I mentioned how much I love this place?? So that was my first expe rience of the Marais, I told me loads more places to go further north then I was so I will definitely be going back soon.

Some of the really cool street art in the Marais

Friday
So today I decided to do the one thing I've been itching to do since I got here, go to the Musée Rodin (don't worry Rachael I'll go again with you). Rodin is a favourite sculptor from A level art days but this museum also houses a Camille Claudel collection; this lady inspired my final university piece and she is hands down my favourite female artist ever. You can look at pictures of sculptures in books and on Google but it NEVER compares to see them in the flesh so to speak. I actually squeaked when I walked into the room that has Claudel's 'Age of Maturity' piece in the centre of the room. Seeing your favourite sculpture ever, up close, for free, pretty decent Friday morning as they go. Anyway the Rodin museum is amazing, the actual museum isn't huge but they've crammed all the Rodin into it they can, the overspill is contained within the amazing garden and grounds. Another must go to museum, however unlike the Marais, this museum is in the 7th which is a bit stuffy and boring.

Camille Claudel's 'The Age of Maturity'

Rodin's 'The Kiss'

The amazing grounds with the museum in the background

Apart from exploring I've been drinking wine and Tetly tea with fellow au pair friends, and of course looking after my little monkies. We were watching Charlie and Lola yesterday, it made me laugh because I genuinely have my own French Charlie and Lola to take care of, three weeks in and even if I had to leave tomorrow I seriously miss these two.

I also spent a metro ride compiling a mental list of the top five things I miss from England at the moment, it currently stands like this
1. Walkers salt and vinny crisps
2. Great British Bake Off
3. Marmite
4. Heat Magazine
5. Fosters in pubs

Exploring Paris

Another week over, I have now entered my third week as an au pair; I am still loving it, some days are hard but I shouldn't complain. Highlight of last week was 'Apple Bobbing Championships 2014', A&E are extremely easily amused by Apple bobbing, which in turn amuses me. I can't wait till it gets colder; at the moment it's so hot here that we go to the park every afternoon after school, by the time we get home we only have a chance for English lessons, once it's colder we'll have more time to do baking, crafts, games etc. I and E love scones, I think it's time to introduce them to Welsh Cakes, which are a step up from a scone. I also had my first nightmare last week, my first time babysitting and I had to call the mum home because a fuse blew and I didn't know where the fuse box was. All was fine and mum was impressed at how I'd dealt with the children in that situation but it was still frustrating for me; I've been babysitting for years and I've never once had to call a parent back! My perfect track record is flawed :( I still find some situations awkward living in a family home but I'm getting there, I am also still being fed very well. I had some fresh hazelnuts delivered from her parents garden in Normandy, soooooo good!

My free time has been taken up by exploring more, wondering round Las Galeries Laffyete, taking in some more amazing churches in the form of Notre-Dame and Madeleine, getting lost in the Louvre (whilst also taking pictures of statues willies to send to Bear) and generally exploring, I spend lots of time walking, trying to get my bearings. The Metro is fun but Paris is so easy to do on foot also. I have, however learnt that there are some essentials for living and exploring in Paris...

1. SHOES

I came to Paris with 6 pairs of shoes, I wear one; my Puma trainers bought on the day of my graduation in sunny Aberystwyth. I foresaw I'd need some decent, comfy, hardwearing trainers I just never thought how much. I tried my sandals once and got blisters everywhere and my deck shoes fell apart in week one, trainers and dresses is a big thing here too so I don't feel like a cheap Lily Allen wearing them with everything! I do give them a rest at night, you are not worth anything if you don't have a pair of black ankle boots in Paris, these are my choice for going out in, there's always still walking involved and my 5ft 10 ass has no need for heels so flat boots suit me fine. If you went out with me at all last year you will remember I always had black ankles boots on my feet whilst enjoying the sticky floors, they fell apart 2 months before the end of uni and I never thought to replace them, clever. Luckily black ankle boots are not difficult to find in Paris, mine were a steal at €25 from H&M.

2.PLANNING

I don't like being lost and I like to have a vague idea where to head when I get to places, within the friends I have made here I have already got a reputation as map girl. I don't care how silly I look getting out my map, I'm yet to fail to get us somewhere. So I have my map book, the one in the picture is HIGHLY recommended, mine already looks 6 years old because I take it everywhere and it's constantly in and out of my bag. A metro map, if someone tells you a metro stop to meet at (often easiest thing to do in Paris) whack this out and you'll have your route planned in a second, likewise if you end up in a different area you started the day/night in this is also an fool proof way to get somewhere; it has bus & RER routes on too. Word of advice, if you meet someone at a metro stop, if you're the first one there, let everyone know what name/number exit you came out of otherwise things get VERY confusing. The little card you see,that's my 'oyster' card, it works on metros and buses and is my lifeline to exploring the city. Mine is unlimited because it us provided with my job but you can get rechargeable ones too.

3. ALWAYS IN MY BAG

Antibacterial handgel, do not come to Paris without it; public hygiene isn't huge here, public toilets are grim and people piss just about anywhere, for you own health, bring this. That old school Nokia, that's my French phone but I normally have my English phone too. My French phone for contacting people, English phone for taking pictures, using free WiFi spots and using the Kindle app to look busy on the metro so the man with really long legs you keep accidentally bumping knees with thinks you're unfazed by it all. And over the shoulder bag is a good idea too, doesn't get in your way and it's most difficult for pick pockets (huge problem here) to take or get into. I had a bigger canvas one when I got here but that annoyed me within the first 48hrs, this one was a steal at €9.95 from H&M again, it is maybe a teeny bit too small but it will do for now.

4. MY DENIM SHIRT

 Yep this was £9 well spent in a charity shop in my first year at uni, the best cover up thing I own. So it's baking hot here at the moment but out of the sun the streets can get really chilly, lots of tall buildings keep in cool all day, if you're exploring churches something to cover up is essential to; because they are also cool but out of respect too. Similarly for any museum too really. It also works fantastically in the cooler evenings when you're having a few drinks outside beforehand but then go into a hot sweaty club.

So that's it, the four things I couldn't live without in Paris. Hope this helps for all of you who are rushing to book your eurostar tickets to visit...

One more notable thing from this last week, my absolutely incredible Saturday, last minute we decided to go to a free techno parade, not really expecting much. Well, we weren't disappointed that's for sure. Huge parade, sunshine, dancing, music, basically perfection. What a way to spend my second Saturday here!! After that we went out to see the delights of a Saturday night in Bastille, there were no delights. Ok it wasn't an awful night, the company was fab and I found more beer cocktails but it was a rough area with nowhere decent to go. Back to Odeon area next week!!

Some flicks from the parade including a very dodgy video
Ft. Bella, Mali & Nicole 

I'll try not to leave it so long before I post again.

Beer cocktails and sight seeing

I survived a week!! One week in and the old au pair comparison is all but gone, the children are asking for me to go on holidays with them and calling me super Kate. No matter how easy my job sounds though don't be completely fooled; living in someone else's house and being trusted with their children is stressful sometimes. So after week one, weekend one was very welcome and what a weekend it's been, way to welcome me Paris!!

So not to change a habit of the last 4 years Friday night was party night, me and two like minded English au paris venture to the Odean area in search of a well deserved break from being au pairs. We grabbed a cheap bottle if wine (in hindsight should have been two) and ventured to sit by the Seine and drink. Sibs made a comment about how chav/Dartford this was of me but this is a 'thing' in Paris, honestly... After that we went in search of this bar D (dad) had shown me, I have no shame whipping my map out so I didn't get lost, way to look like a tourist Kate! Anyway we found it, The Frog and The Princess, so very English! This is a really nice bar with craft beers too, anyone who knows me knows I'll swap wine for beer any day BUT even better this placed had beer cocktails. When Bear comes to visit I'm going to sit and drink every beer cocktail on the menu with her. After a couple here we carried on in another bar, with dancing and shots and Guinness (not nice in Paris). After sacking off the last metro we went back to one of the girls flats for an after party, cue me rocking in at 6am. A super fun night had by all but damn Paris is expensive, no more £1 party here :( I have a feeling I will eternally be on the hunt for the cheapest drink here. It's worth it though, it's Paris.

You can take the girl out of Dartford but you can take Dartford out of the girl?
Photo courtesy of Nicole

Determined not to waste a hungover day in Paris us girls rallied to go to the Sacré Coeur to check it out. The view from the top is one of the best in Paris and even though I'd been before I'd never been into the building and looked around. But it was hot and sweaty, there are loads of steps and I was dying; I'm pretty sure I sweated out everything I drank the night before! It was lovely though and the architecture is beautiful. After this I slogged back home for a dinner party, some more of D&I's friends; this party was even better then the first, champagne and red wine flowed freely and so did conversation. It still struggled to understand at times but not half as much as before, I was also complemented of my pronunciation of French which was extremely nice.

A very hungover me and the lovely not hungover Emma

Sunday I met the girls again and we went along to a massive picnic for Au Pairs, fun but there were lots of people there and I don't always think they are the best situations to get to know people in. One of the girls said she was bored of telling the same story over again, yep me too. So we left after a little while and wandered over to the Musée D'Orsay for some culture; this has got to be my fave museum in Paris, Toulouse Lautrec's work is there and j'adore his work. I also got to see some Rodin sculptures whom I studied a lot for my final uni piece, his stuff is beautiful up close.

So there it is, weekend one (of many) there is so much to see and do in this city, scrapbooks WILL be bursting at the seems by the end (even if it is of phone numbers of boys named Sebastian and dried roses off boys named Kevin).

Till next time

Je Mange.

I have just officially clocked off from my first day as an au pair but more about that after.

First up, let's all appreciate Chez Kate, it's not quite 22 Mill Street but it'll do

Panoramic shots are really hard

I have a flying chicken, anyone got a good name?

This might come back to England with me....

The courtyard and exit to the street

The downstairs study

 So viola! It's small and perfectly formed, I'm spending quite a bit of time here (and in the main house) at the moment, but as the years activities all start, children's and my French classes and hopefully I get a social life I won't be here as much! Here's hoping anyway.

Best part of life here so far, the family are amazing and part of my families life is food, oh how my eating has changed! Since being here I (mum) has outstanded me with what a busy Parisian mum can throw together, fish has featured heavily (not always known what it is but it's always been yummy); fish with lentils, fish with rice, fish with fennel, fish with carrots. Yesterday was the first time we'd not had fish and it was cured beef with beetroot salad, AMAZING. Saturday night D&I threw a dinner party, wow, this was fish with fennel night but also on the menu was Normandy sausage (love sausage), some little bites of heaven in the form of choux pastry and cheese (made by the children's adopted grandma who I have also now adopted) and some kind of wonderful fig gratin, what was done with those figs I need never know but it was insane. And let's just take a moment to appreciate the cheese every meal thing I have going on here, I can die happy knowing somewhere cheese all the time is acceptable; I've had this brie but 100% times better then the shit we get in England and so many more that to be honest I have no idea what they were. I've also eaten more fruit in the 6 days I've been here then in the last year (that's not an exaggeration). Even then McDonalds is better here, not that I would know of course....

Anyway enough of me waxing lyrical about food, let's talk au pair life. Honestly I don't feel like I have a job, I spent the first morning of official employment shopping;  and being really proud of myself for managing my parlez Francis with the shop assistants really well (except maybe the man in muji who was either telling me something really important or selling me a store card). Then I had a leisurely lunch whilst getting some teaching tips from the sibs (if all your teaching ideas are as good as that JP you're gonna have teaching down to a, well, T) and vacuumed around whilst banging out AWOLNATION 'Sail'. I got the children's post school snack ready, loaded up my canvas bag (Rachael, got a feeling this will be well used sis!) and caught the metro to the children's school. It was so fun collecting the children, E couldn't wait to show me everything from here first day at big school, so sweet. I took the children to the park after school were we played uno, read Frozen, ate our snacks, sang 'row row row your boat' and E&A ran off all the excess energy from school. Back home was English time, I taught them 5 words all relating to 'busy' which they hadn't understood yesterday. Then it was 15minutes on Ceebies word game, which they loved then as a well done they watch Horrid Henry on youTube. If anyone knows any good teaching English internet resources please comment and let me know! It all went very smoothly, the only niggle being having to overcome 'but the old au pair did it this way' line every time I explained what we were doing, hopefully somewhere along the way that will fade out, perseverance is the key!!

So that's it, the final snap is just to illustrate how pretty the Eiffel looks looming over the 15t more updates soon x